Scoring first key for UMass

By Michael King Massachusetts Daily Collegian

December 13, 2007

Amherst, MA (CSTV U-WIRE) -- Scoring the first goal isn't always easy, but in soccer it can be the difference between winning and losing.

More often than not, there's been a '1' illuminated under 'UMass' before its opponents as the Massachusetts men's soccer team made its run to the 2007 NCAA College Cup.

While the Minutemen try to shed their reputation as a defense-only team, they are continuing to find the net during the postseason. Certainly UMass has an outstanding goalkeeper and defenders, but the ability of its forwards and midfielders to create chances and score goals has allowed the squad to advance to the national semifinal.

The Minutemen have a knack for scoring first; a feat realized in five of their last seven postseason games dating back to the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

"It's a confidence booster for sure," sophomore midfielder Mark DeSantis said. "To get the first goal and go up 1-0, the pressure is on [the opponent] right away. It's great getting the first goal with Zack [Simmons], Kenny [Cook] and [Chris] Brown behind you."

And the goalkeeper and center backs that DeSantis refers to are the main reason why the Minutemen have played well with the lead. Before last weekend's match against Illinois-Chicago, the last time UMass relinquished a lead was Oct. 27 against Rhode Island.

UMass scored early in the second half against UIC, then allowed the Flames to get a goal of their own about 10 minutes later. In a result that showcases the Minutemen's development over the season, junior midfielder Mike DeSanits scored the game-winner with 20 minutes remaining.

"When UIC scored that goal, it certainly was a step back for us, but it wasn't a situation where we panicked, and I think you saw the result of that when we got the second goal," Koch said.

Without a doubt, each goal changes the way the rest of the game is played. The challenge is to avoid pressing too much when the team falls behind and not allow itself to get comfortable if its takes a lead.

"It's very important and takes the loads off of your back, but you still have to stay focused," Mike DeSantis said about getting the first goal. "If you don't stay focused, you can easily give up a goal. You still have to play to score again."

When the Maroon and White manages to be the first to crack the scoreboard, Koch doesn't make any drastic tactical changes. He may drop Mark DeSantis back to the center midfield, but is more apt to give his forwards a rest by replacing Bryan Hogan and Mark DeSantis with Prince Ofosu and Michael Jejna

"That's one way we've grown over the season," Cook said. "It's hard mentally when you go up a goal not to just sit back and defend. Every game when we go up a goal, we try to keep the momentum going and get one or two more."

Even when the Minutemen have not scored first, they have still enjoyed success. Against No. 1 overall seed Boston College in the tournament's second round, the Eagles tallied a first-half goal. But UMass responded with two of its own in the second to upset the ACC power.

"When we went down 1-0 against BC, we looked at each other like, 'Whoa,'" Koch said. "But it didn't faze them as they knew it was a 90-minute game and that we could come back."

If the Minutemen fall behind Ohio State in Friday's match, they will need to make sure that the Buckeyes don't quickly increase their deficit. OSU scored all of its four goals within a 14-minute span in its quarterfinal victory over Bradley.

Regardless of which team scores first in Friday's match, Cook and the UMass defense know that if they can succeed at their end, their offensive counterparts will put the Minutemen on the scoreboard.

"It's a lot easier to be relaxed and composed when you know that you can score goals," Cook said. "We've been getting a lot of opportunities and it's only a matter of time before you punch. It's comforting knowing that you are going to get more than just one or two chances per game."

And that confidence has spread has spread to the forward themselves as well.

"I like to score first because it gives you a cushion, and when you don't, you start questioning yourself," Hogan said. "It's tough to come from behind. But, recently, even when we haven't scored first, it's still worked out pretty well for us."

Michael King can be reached at mking@student.umass.edu.